A Million Cards

[Nephti]

"Truth," Nephti murmured to herself, listening closely about the bonds. It was the bonds with older Kelvics that she cared about. They were new and different - and from the sound of it, they were much more important, Nephti focusing carefully on her words. She mentioned emotional, something about that. So those bonds were real, like the bonds between any other race. That's what she assumed anyway.

Careful to not be too abrupt in asking just in case it was a delicate subject, Nephti spoke softly, looking at the woman carefully. "Have you had a bond?" she asked carefully, eyes open wide to show her innocence in asking the question. She just wanted to know - that was it.

She nodded at the woman's proposal. Priskil was a topic she would never give up the chance to talk about, especially if people wanted to listen. "It is a deal," she agreed with a smile, glad that she would learn some more about runes, "I can tell you everything I know. I want to."

It turned out that the person the woman knew had reasons for not talking about the gods, but didn't share them with others. Nephti shrugged, uncertain what to say in return. "Maybe she had more important or interesting things to talk about. To her, anyway," Nephti giggled, looking up towards the Kelvic's strange eyes again, "To me, the gods and goddesses are very important. Especially Priskil."

Without noticing it, she brought her mark close to herself, smiling softly. Arisia seemed so nice - she was glad for their meeting. There was still so much she wanted to ask about her, so much she wanted to talk about it, but she was still grateful for the conversation so far. "Do you live in Alvadas? I have a room in Cubacious Inn, but I had room in Wolf's Cave - there are a lot of Kelvic there, but I do not know them. Maybe you are staying there?" she asked curiously, "Or have house? I do not know." She hoped the woman would tell her, so they could meet again. Otherwise, it would be up to Ionu to bring them together, and that could be a bad thing to rely on, knowing the god.

[Arisia]

It was nice that Nephti was taking an interest in her race, as she seemed unaware, it appeared that she liked leaning about things she didn't know. "I haven't had a bond yet, though I wish I did. We need one to live in happiness, and to be fully healthy. However, fate seems to have not led me to a bond, yet." She grinned upon the woman agreeing to her proposal, as she was always eager to learn new things and share her knowledge, especially with fortune telling. Arisia nodded in agreement with the Ephyrian "Yes, they are very important, and maybe she did have her reasons, I wish I'd have learnt more as I grew up though." She was excited to tell Nephti about fortune telling with runes, it was something that most people did not know, as they favoured using cards, which she liked as well, runes were what she was taught first, and she enjoyed going back to them occasionally. Arisia nodded, "Yes, I have a room in the Wolf's cave, there are many Kelvics, though I haven't spoken to them often, as I'm not there much."

[Nephti]

Nephti smiled softly as the woman talked of her bond - or rather, lack of one. "You will find a bond. You must just have hope," she said, the words so obvious, "I know you will find a bond." After all, who wouldn't want a bond with someone so nice? This woman definitely deserved one, and as Nephti met her strange eyes, she hoped for Arisia too.

The Eypharian girl, still full of hope, then nodded to what Arisia had to say. What you learned as a child was very important in forming you as you were, even if it was false. But it didn't matter in the end: "But now you can learn more, and learn well. Learn the truth," she said, testing the new word, "And you can see what the truth is better too."

And it meant that Nephti could teach her about the goddesses and gods in their lives. Perhaps if Arisia had learnt more when she was younger, they wouldn't have had this need for a conversation. Then they never would have met.

"Can I visit, sometimes?" Nephti asked politely, after the woman had announced where she was staying, the Wolf's Cave as Nephti had expected, "It is nice to make a new friend. I feel... safe." She found that word odd on her tongue, not realising it before then. Her mind had found thoughts of Vantha disappearing. Thoughts of what was happening to them, and thoughts of what would happen to those that helped them, if they weren't careful. Arisia had distracted her without even knowing it, made her feel braver without even realising how scared she really was. "Thank you," she whispered softly, slightly embarrassed about how attached she had become to this woman. They had only just met, and she was already calling her a friend. But it would be okay, if Arisia shared the sentiment.

[Arisia]

She smiled at the Eypharian girl, happy to hear that she had hope for her. "Yes I'm sure I w-", her sentence was brought to an abrupt stop, by an equally abrupt feeling. She felt a strange jolt inside her, and a strange longing for companionship in her mind. Arisia was confused, the feeling felt familiar, yet she did not know what it was. Nodding at the Ephyrian she smiled, " Yes, the truth is good.", she would have said more, but she felt strange, almost like she couldn't speak, though she knew she was able. Arisia remembered how her guardian had taught her about her race, how they bonded with others that suited them, how it happened abruptly, how they felt the others happiness and pain. How she would learn to know everything about her bondmate. She didn't know why she was remembering this now, her thought was interrupted like her speech had been, by another feeling. This time she felt drawn to Nephti, like her soul was being pulled towards her. Looking over the girls face, she thought to herself, could it be they were bonding? She shook her head, no it couldn't be, Nephti didn't appear to be feeling this aswell. She countered that thought again, thinking how it would make sense, as she felt quite attached to her already. Hearing that Nephti felt 'safe' with her, almost confirmed it in her mind, but she didn't say anything other to speak an answer to her question "Of course you can." , and to give her a ha!f hearted smile. She then felt many emotions all at once, some hers, and some Nephti's, she could barely think about what was happening, and then it was over. They had bonded. "A-ah" Arisia stuttered, in slight shock from the abrupt situation, trying to speak.

[Nephti]

Arisia began to reply, but was cut off suddenly. She was silent for a long time and Nephti wasn't certain why. Nothing was wrong, was it? The Eypharian began to panic, wondering whether she had said something to upset her. Had her question on bonds been too abrupt? Had the woman finally realised something, something she didn't want to think about? Nephti wanted to reach out, apologise, but found herself stopping, continuing.

Emotions over came her, shock, a happiness and sort of relief. Emotions that were half hers, but half weren't. But they weren't forced there by some magic, it wasn't like hypnotism or anything like that. It was real emotion, pure emotion, emotion she could actual feel as if it was her emotion.

Nephti blinked, eyes wide, mouth open, as if she wanted to speak but she had nothing to say. This feeling - she knew this feeling. It was like the feeling she had so many years ago, a feeling of connection. But at the same time, it was nothing like that. It was so much stronger, so much more meaningful. The closest thing she could equate it to was a feeling she had that linked her to her goddess. It wasn't like that though.

It was more. It was deeper. She was no longer one being, but two. She could feel Arisia inside her, rather than outside. The girl look up slowly, for some reason terrified. Although she knew that the bond couldn't hurt her. It was something magical and perfect. It was fear for Arisia. It would only mean that the woman would be dragged into her mess of a life, trying to bring peace to a world that wanted slaughter, whether that was of Vantha or others.

Then she dismissed those thoughts. If they had bonded, fate wanted them together. Fate wanted Nephti to have a protector, and Arisia would be hers. And Nephti would be the Kelvic's link to the gods. The girl beamed, looking up. "I feel it too," she said simply, everything obvious. They had bonded. That was what both of them knew. And they could feel in, inside, so strongly.

[Arisia]

Arisia was silent for a moment, coming to terms with what had happened. She hadn't expected it to happen, though she felt relieved that it had at last. She had bondmate now, a friend, someone she could trust and rely on. She then felt excited, excited for what this would mean, excited to learn why fate had decided upon this, why they were bonded. Arisia felt the other woman's terror, and fear. It scared her slightly, was Nephti unhappy with the bond? She thought to herself, unsure of what to feel, until the Ephyrian looked up, beaming at her, and assured her that she fe!t it too. She nodded at the girl before speaking, she looked up her eyes curious and worried. "I felt ... Your fear, your terror. Why did you feel that? Were you unhappy to be bonded with me?" Asking this, she felt idiotic, she could feel her joy, however she had to be sure. She couldn't go on without asking.

[Nephti]

Then she felt excitement. Not her's, but Arisia's. At first, at least, it was just Arisia's. Then she felt it too. And she couldn't get rid of it even if she had wanted to. The happiness flowed through her, the excitement of wondering what was waiting for her, for them. Excited to learn everything about Arisia, learn her better than she knew herself. Excited to feel everything she felt.

Nephti reached out when she felt Arisia's worry, under the excitement and joy. She took her hand, holding it tight for support. She pushed away all the fear, reminded herself she was safe. Reminding herself that with Arisia, nothing could happen. "I am not unhappy," she bubbled, "I am happy - more than happy. This is prefect. I did not know a bond would feel like this. It is so... inside me. So... perfect. Strong. Amazing."

The smile on her face would not leave and she let it shine brighter, wider, filling her face with her emotions. "I was just scared," she decided she had to say it, because she had to share everything with Arisia, "I want to help. I want to help Vantha, and the world. But it is dangerous. I do not want you to be in danger. Tell me now. If you disagree. If you do not want danger. I do not want you to be hurt, because of me."

But she wouldn't be hurt. Arisia had Nephti and Nephti had Arisia, each to protect each other. And fate wouldn't bring them together just to tear them apart. Arisia was here to help her. She had to be. Another hand joined where Nephti held the Kelvic's, seeking support, seeking safety. "What now?" she asked, unsure. How had her life changed? How would it change?

[Arisia]

Arisia felt a wave of relief pass over her, and then a slight regret when Nephti mentioned the Vantha. She wondered if her mother was okay, or even alive.

She had never known the woman well, as she had only known her for two seasons, upon which she left in search of her bondmate, as kelvics usually do. Her mother wasn't marked, but was still clearly a Vantha. Hopefully she hadn't been targeted.

She spoke softly, just above a whisper next, not wanting to be overheard. "I want to help the Vantha too, no matter if it is dangerous or not."

Pausing for a moment, she pondered whether to tell the Eypharian the next part, however she felt obliged to, they were bonded after all. It would be said eventually, whether she wanted it to be or not. She spoke extremely quietly, moving slightly closer so her bondmate could hear. "My mother is a Vantha."

Or was , she bitterly thought before continuing, angry at how unfair this was.

" She is unmarked, and I didn't know her well at all when I lived, with her. Though some people do not care if they're marked or not."

She took a steady breath, calming down, and then smiled playfully. "Besides all that, I can protect myself, I am a cat after all, I know how to fight."

Nephti asked her what now, and Arisia was not quite sure. She thought carefully, remembering what she learnt.

"I am not quite sure, though I know we will become more alike than we are now." She paused for a second a gentle smile gracing her face. "Now we get to know each other. Everything, bad and good."

[Nephti]

When Arisia whispered the words gently, Nephti smiled at her strongly. Then they would help the Vantha together, Kelvic and Eypharian. She moved closer as the woman did, listening to her next words, murmured to her so no one else could hear.

"She will not be in danger," Nephti found herself saying, without even knowing her. There was nothing she knew that would have made her convinced. But she had to, because that was what she needed to say. Some people were crazy, but there were more like her and Arisia, who would help the Vantha. With protection like there was in Alvadas, a Vantha, not marked, would be safe. She had to be.

Sensing the anger in Arisia, she hoped her words calmed her. The Kelvic did calm, eventually, and became happier, speaking playfully. Nephti joined her positive attitude, aware that there were always going to be people who could be listening in, endangering them. "I have a scimitar," she added to Arisia's about fighting, "I need practice. But I know danger and do not care." Her smile didn't match her words, but she didn't care about that either. She was bonded and it was wonderful.

After Arisia explained what she knew, Nephti frowned out of curiosity, "Alike? How?" Would she change? Would Arisia change, or would they both? For the better, she assumed. But what if you bonded with someone cruel and evil? Would the pair change to become more like that person?

That wasn't relevant, however. "Tell me," Nephti asked, still smiling, eyes shining, "I want to know everything about you."

[Arisia]

She smiled upon hearing Nephti assure her she would not be in danger. Arisia doubted that was true, though she knew that the Eypharian truly believed that she would be safe, she could feel it, and she didn't want to disagree with her new bondmate. Hearing Nephti talk about her scimitar, she decided to tell her about her martial arts. "I studied martial arts in my spare time while I lived in Syrilas, I enjoyed it a lot and I think I'm alright at it. I wanted to be able to protect myself. I don't know how to use a weapon unfortunately , so I'm not as able to fight against people who are armed." She paused for a moment again upon her next question, remembering what she knew about mirroring. "Well, each of us will have a personality that is similar to the others, though we won't be exactly alike. We could take interests in something to other person likes or does." Arisia wondered how she would change upon being bonded, she didn't know much about the other, so she didn't know what could happen. She spoke told Nephi about her past, when she heard her bondmate wanted to know about her. "Well as I said, I lived with my mother-" She slipped into Vani, which happened at times, as she was used to saying the word to her mother. "Mother." She corrected herself and then continued. "I left in search of my bondmate and lived with an elderly fortune teller, who taught me all I know, about kelvics and fortune telling. I grew restless in the city, and wanted to travel, so I came to here, interested in the illusions and interested in seeing places other than Syrilas."